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Pacheco Staying Composed despite being Blanked in Tulsa

By: Justin Felisko
August 13, 2018

Kaique Pacheco went 0-for-3 in Tulsa but retained his world No. 1 ranking. Photo: Andy Watson/BullStockMedia.com.

TULSA, Okla. – Kaique Pacheco stood on the back of the bucking chutes inside the BOK Center on Sunday afternoon and looked on as some of his closest opponents in the World Championship race – Cody NanceJose Vitor Leme and Cooper Davis – got ready to climb on top of their championship round bulls.

The No. 1 bull rider in the world standings failed to return to the dominant form he displayed in Las Vegas at Last Cowboy Standing and went 0-for-3 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, this past weekend.

Pacheco was quickly dispatched by Lil 2 Train (4.08 seconds) in Round 1, Smooth Air (6.29 seconds) in the 15/15 Bucking Battle and Burn It Up (3.75 seconds) in Round 2.

Regardless, Pacheco is relying on his veteran experience this time around after being a World Champion contender in each of his first three seasons on tour.

“I am really kind of relaxed,” Pacheco said with the help of Paulo Crimber translating on RidePass. “This is my first weekend back and I have a lot more to go. I think I am going to turn it around.”

There are eight regular-season events remaining before the PBR World Finals on Nov. 7.

The good news for Pacheco in Tulsa was that No. 2 Claudio Montanha Jr. and previously No. 3 Ramon de Lima also went 0-for-3.

The bad news is new No. 3 Leme (625 world points), No. 10 Fabiano Vieira (357.5 world points) No. 5 Nance (275 world points), No. 7 Jess Lockwood and No. 9 Davis (115) gained ground on him in the world standings.

There are also now 15 riders – up from 13 last week – within the crucial 2,000-point mark necessary to have a legitimate chance at winning the world title in Las Vegas.

Pacheco, though, understands he can open up a significant lead on the field this weekend in Nashville at the Music City Knockout, presented by Cooper Tires.

The 23-year-old leads Montanha by 301.67 points, but a victory in Nashville could earn Pacheco up to 1,205 points toward the world standings.

“It is going to be really important,” Pacheco said. “I am going to prepare myself to go there and turn this weekend around and ride them all instead of being 0-for-3. I know I can get a bunch of points there and get a big lead ahead.”

One rider can win a maximum of 1,205 points towards the world standings at the final PBR Major of the regular season if they win the event title and the ride score championship. Riders also earn world points based on how far they advance in the bracket.

Thirty-six riders will compete head-to-head in the bracket-style event until one rider is remaining. A rider wins a matchup with the highest ride score or buckoff time.

The Top 12 riders in the world standings receive a bye for the first round.

The event champion – the head-to-head bracket winner – earns 625 world points. This title goes to the rider who advances through the bracket system and defeats his opponent in the final head-to-head matchup.

The ride score champion is the rider with the highest aggregate from all rounds of competition, regardless of number of bulls faced. The ride score champion can also be the head-to-head bracket winner.

 
Pacheco has experience winning both titles in Nashville, and he has had a ton of success in the Music City.

The rookie won the inaugural Music City Knockout in 2015 to surge to No. 2 in the world standings with 650 world points.

In 2016, he finished runner-up to Cooper Davis at the event for 500 world points.

Pacheco then regained the world No. 1 ranking last year by winning the ride score championship in Nashville.

The Itatiba, Brazil, bull rider is 7-for-14 at Bridgestone Arena.

Pacheco is 25-for-54 (46.3 percent) this season in 18 events.

PAST MUSIC CITY KNOCKOUT CHAMPIONS (RIDE SCORE CHAMP)

2015: Kaique Pacheco (Fabiano Vieira)
2016: Cooper Davis (J.B. Mauney)
2017: Fabiano Vieira (Kaique Pacheco)

© 2018 PBR Inc. All rights reserved.

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